Members of organized forces who have been tasked to implement a local orders that prohibited the selling of alcohol, shisha and beers in Kwajok town are accused of taking bribes from the people instead of arresting them.

The government of the newly created Gogrial State in April this year issued the local order that banned the sale of beers, all locally made alcoholic drinks except for merisa and shisha in Kwajok market citing the need to curb crimes in the state.

“A joint operation was formed and mandated to arrest those who will be found continue selling alcohol or make shisha smoke but these forces are taking money from people they found selling alcohol,” explained the deputy governor Santino Akot Abiem on Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

“If you informed them they will go and if a woman shows them and gives them some money or even alcohol they take it or drink and come back pretending that they did not find anybody and this way will not enable us to stop the alcohol,” he added.

He revealed that a court was formed to try those found violating the order and the government has plans to do something with the fines but because police officers are accepting bribes this plan is struggling.

“We would use this money either to build out a stadium or do other things but now police are the ones benefiting,” he said,

On different note, the government of Gogrial state has on Monday formed a committee to register people who fled violence in Wau. The committee is led by Gabriel Anyier Madut and will working with NGOs in the state to identify the displaced people and their needs.

Deputy Santino Akot Abiem acknowledged that many people arrived in Kwajok since fighting broke out in Wau. He said most of them have been accommodated by relatives.

Related: 

Firearms and alcohol seized in Kwajok market (27 April)